Authors: Dawn Pendleton
“Ready to go?” Mallory asked, already pulling her coat back on in the foyer. “We’ve got a bunch more places to hit.”
“Will you guys check on her? She hit her head last night and I doubt she would be okay with me showing up this morning.”
Luke set his cup in the sink, gave me a nod, and then followed Mallory out onto the porch. He shook my hand when I told them to have fun. Mallory moved in for a hug, going up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear.
“Push her over the edge. Don’t back down, and make her feel something. She still has feelings for you, she’s just angry.” She pulled away and smiled at me.
I watched them disappear into Luke’s old truck and kiss sweetly before he threw the gear shifter into reverse and gunned the gas. I shook my head as he yanked the wheel and they slid sideways onto the road. When he put the truck in drive, he made it fishtail for at least fifty feet before he finally corrected and slowed. It was quite a show.
I glanced at my watch and wondered where Baker was at seven AM. It wouldn’t hurt to find out. I went back in the house in search of my cell.
5
Gabby
The room was quiet and dark, something my bedroom wasn’t, normally. My head was already throbbing, so I knew I needed to get to the bathroom for water and ibuprofen. I threw off the comforter and sat up, my migraine protesting at the movement. I stole a glance at the nightstand, wondering how late I’d slept.
No alarm clock.
That’s weird.
I stifled a yawn and stood up, making my way to the hallway. With my eyes half-closed, I ran straight into the wall. I bounced back, grabbing my aching head. I stared at the wall for a moment before realization dawned. I wasn’t in my room. I was in the master bedroom Wolfe and I shared for two and a half years.
Thinking hurt my head, so I forced myself into the hall bathroom, fumbling with the medicine cabinet and finally popping two pills into my mouth. Instead of looking for a cup, I opted for running the water and just putting my mouth under the faucet. The cold water splashed onto my face, the frigid water shocking me awake.
My head hurt more than just a hangover, so I reached to where the pain began and found a good-sized knot on the back of my head. I wondered where it came from for a moment before the memories from last night came flooding back.
The bar. Chasing after Wolfe. Falling on the deck. Him bringing me home and tucking me into our bed. That kiss …
I held onto the counter to keep myself upright as the vivid image of that kiss warmed my skin, pinkening my cheeks. I stared at my reflection for a second as I let the memory wash over me. Wolfe’s lips were heavenly, his touch so gentle but demanding, too. Sexually, he was my soul mate, I knew. I moaned when I remembered the way he took absolute possession of my mouth, his tongue forceful without being overbearing.
I swallowed hard and glared at myself, hating that I wanted him, after all this time. He was supposed to be wiped from my memory, not refreshing himself into my brain! For just a second, I wondered what he’d done to convince me to kiss him, but then I remembered how I’d all but thrown myself at him from the moment I walked into the bar.
Ugh! Why do I do this?
It wasn’t the first time I’d almost let things get too far with Wolfe in the last year. At Rainey and Baker’s wedding reception, I mauled him in the hallway between the men’s and women’s rooms and we ended up in a supply closet, my back pressed against the door to keep it closed, my legs around his hips while he held me up. It was erotic and hot, and I’d wanted nothing more than for him to take me in that closet, up against the door.
Nothing but a make-out session ensued, since there was a knock on the door before we could do much more than get his suit jacket and shirt off. His body was still as hot and rock hard as I remembered. If anything, he was even more ripped than he was before, seeing as he had more time for working out now that we weren’t together. Or maybe he thought his body was the way back to my heart.
It’s not
. Or at least that’s what I told myself. His body definitely made me lose my head last night, that was for sure. No matter what I thought of him, his body distracted me every time, making me feel like I made a bad decision by leaving him.
The reality was, though, that leaving him was the only way to protect myself. Forget the fact that he wanted to go back to Florida someday, something I would never want to do. Forget that the passion between us was always so hot, either of us could combust at any given time. All the mattered, to me, anyway, was that I didn’t want to leave my hometown.
I wasn’t adventurous like Mallory or running away like Rainey. I wanted to grow old in Casper, start a family, and be buried in the small town. I liked vacationing to exotic places once in a while, but I much preferred taking a camping trip into the mountains, enjoying the outdoors, and practicing my hunting skills. I didn’t hunt regularly, I just wanted to be prepared, in case of zombie apocalypse. It was silly, sure, but I wasn’t about to let my brains get eaten by some undead creature.
Then there was the fact that living in Maine created the need to be able to protect myself, especially on my hiking trips. There were so many times as a kid my dad had to kill, or almost kill, an animal who invaded our campsite. He taught me well. I wasn’t as comfortable around guns as Wolfe was, but I could shoot a bow better than Darryl Dixon himself.
In our first year, Wolfe tried to convince me to shoot, but I was too stubborn, too dedicated to using my bow, that I didn’t even want to learn. My stubbornness was the first wedge that was driven between us. There were more, of course, but they were always my fault.
Damn my crazy girl hormones!
Every woman dealt with them, but mine seemed to be on edge the entire time we were together. Even after we separated, I was still moody. I was so sick of harboring secrets, like Rainey’s, and keeping my friends from making stupid decisions, like Mallory.
I loved them, naturally, but I felt so abandoned when they both left that I jumped into a serious relationship with Wolfe, without really knowing him that well first, and then we were married so quickly … The whole relationship felt fake. Except for the sex. There were no doubts that we had chemistry when it came to the bedroom. That was really the only reason, I think, we lasted as long as we did. I stayed with him because he was my first and I didn’t want to be coined as a girl who got around, especially in our small town.
I managed to brew a pot of coffee, making it extra strong, since my head was still pounding. I pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and gulped it down before the pot was finished brewing. I poured a cup and added some sugar before I realized I was out of cream.
Oh well,
I thought,
it’s just par for the course.
A heavy scraping of a plow against the hard ground had me peeking out the living room window. Luke and Mallory were clearing my driveway, which was so nice of them. I was lucky to have such amazing friends. I opened up the front door and stood behind the glass and screen door, waving at them. Mallory hopped out, her blonde hair flying wildly in the wind. She slammed the door behind her and raced up the steps. I pushed open the glass and welcomed her inside.
“Holy shit, it’s cold!” she huffed, blowing warm air into her hands. “How are you feeling this morning?” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“Don’t even ask,” I muttered, turning away from the door and leading her into the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Sure, I’ve only had about a hundred cups since last night, so one more won’t kill me.” She grabbed a mug from my cupboard and poured herself some. “Where’s your creamer?” She pulled open the fridge, her face a mix of shock and terror as she surveyed its contents.
“I haven’t really had time to get to the store,” I murmured, sipping my black coffee.
“Gross. I’m not drinking that,” she said, glaring at the mug she’d been excited to drink out of only a minute before. She pulled a bottle of orange juice out of the fridge. “Is this safe to drink?”
“I don’t know. Check the date,” I told her.
She examined the plastic bottle for at least a full minute and then popped the top and sniffed the juice. Satisfied, she chugged all that was left and then grinned at me.
“How long have you guys been out?” I asked.
“All night. I think the best part of us being together is when we get to do things like this. You think we would get tired of each other, but it’s like the more time we spend together, the more time we want to spend together. Is that weird?”
Yes, yes it is.
“Of course not.” I hoped my face didn’t betray my true feelings.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I’m like the worst friend ever!” She walked over and hugged me, her arms surprisingly comforting.
With my head on her shoulder, I broke. Tears formed in my eyes and leaked down my face. My heart seemed to collapse in on itself, ripping into a thousand tiny pieces, never to be put back together again.
“Gabby! Talk to me, babe,” Mallory pleaded, unsure of how to react.
I continued crying for another minute, letting myself take solace in her arms. She’d been through enough in the last year, though; she didn’t need my bullshit added to it.
“I’m okay,” I muttered, wiping the tears from my face. I hadn’t taken my makeup off last night, so when I pulled my hand back, it was covered in black. “Ugh, why didn’t I take my makeup off?”
“You were too busy being wooed by Wolfe.”
My eyes flew to hers. “What do you know about what happened last night?”
“I know that he took you home and tucked you into bed. It’s a small town, Gabby. You know that better than anyone.”
That was true, but I’d done a damn good job of staying out of the town gossip the last few years. With the exception of the separation, which Wolfe and I managed to keep quiet for a long time before people really knew what was going on. And then Mallory and Rainey showed up, after so many years away, and the town gossips went to town with stories about them. Their presence saved me.
“Nothing happened,” I lied, knowing she’d be able to see through it.
“Liar. Your lipstick is all over your mouth, Gabby. Unless you made out with yourself in the mirror …”
My lipstick! Shit.
“Okay, fine. We kissed.”
“Yeah, I’m so not letting you get away with that shit. You better give me some details,” she demanded, pulling me into the living room and sitting us both on the couch. “What is going on with you and him?” she asked as she handed me a box of tissues.
“I don’t even know!” I shrieked, hating the way my voice sounded, all whiny and immature. I rubbed a tissue under each of my eyes. “Things are just so complicated, so frustrating. I know he wants to go back to Florida, I just can’t understand why he hasn’t gone. He could have flown up for the court date. I just want him to go away.”
“Stop being ridiculous. Wolfe is here because he loves you, Gabby. You really think he would stay here, in the cold of winter, if he felt any other way about you? That man is dying inside, and you keep rejecting him, killing him further. But then you get drunk and flirt with him, and I know you can’t see it, but when you do that, it gives him hope again, like he might get you back.”
“Listen, I only flirted last night, okay? Let’s not make this out to be more than it is.”
“Right. Like at Baker and Rainey’s wedding?”
My mouth dropped. “How do you know about that?”
“Who do you think knocked on the door? I saw you both sneak in that closet and knew what would happen. I didn’t want either of you making a decision you would regret.”
“So you think we would regret sleeping together again?”
“No. I know for a fact that Wolfe would love to get you into bed. But he would hate himself for taking advantage while you were drunk, and you would regret it no matter what. I’m sure that’s the reason he left you alone last night.”
She was right. I wanted him last night, bad. But I would have felt like shit about it this morning. Even when we weren’t together, Wolfe was protecting me.
I sighed. “When did you turn into the relationship guru?”
“When I stopped running from the love of my life and just let him love me. You could stand to do the same.”
“Wolfe isn’t the love of my life,” I muttered.
“Bullshit. The way he looks at you, I’ve only ever seen that look on the faces of two other men: Luke and Baker.”
“Wolfe doesn’t look at me like that.”
“Open your eyes, Gabby. When you aren’t looking at him. He’s looking at you, trust me. The man is head over heels for you.” She stood. “And now I have to go help Luke plow some more. Just promise me you’ll pay more attention when you two are in the same room?”
She leaned down to hug me so I nodded against her, though I didn’t think it was going to do any bit of good. Wolfe wasn’t in love with me, not anymore. I’d lost his love when I told him I wanted a divorce. There was no reason for us to try anymore.
We might want each other on a sexual level, but there was nothing more than that between us anymore.
6
Wolfe
Baker didn’t answer, which definitely didn’t surprise me. But when my phone started ringing after my shower and the number was one I didn’t recognize, I picked up hesitantly.
“This is Wolfe.”
“Wolfe! It’s Baker. I need help, man. I don’t know what to do without her. I just want to end it all. Tell everyone I love them,” he spewed his words out altogether, one big jumbled sentence that barely made sense.
“Baker, tell me where you are,” I demanded, able to put together enough of his nonsense to know he wasn’t thinking clearly.
“She’s gone! Gone forever. I wanna be with her,” he whispered with a sob.
My breath caught in my throat. “
Where are you?
”
“Tell everyone I love them,” he replied, clicking off the line.
“
Noooo!
” I screamed at my phone, desperate to get him back on the line.
I called the number on my caller id and waited impatiently for someone to pick up. On the third ring, I almost pressed
end
but a woman’s voice finally answered.
“High End Inn and Suites. This is Brittney, how may I direct your call?”
I thought fast. “I’m checking in today and need your address for my GPS. My wife forgot to write it down.”
I grabbed a piece of paper while she listed the address. He was two hours north of us, and though I didn’t know if that was enough time, I had to try. I wondered if I should alert Luke and Mallory, but the storm was still in full swing and they were needed here. I didn’t want to worry them, either.
Without thinking, I ran out of the house and started the Jeep, not even letting it warm up before I whipped out of the driveway and drove straight to Gabby’s place. She was the one who would want to come with me and wouldn’t drive me too crazy on the drive. I pulled into her cleared driveway, thankful that Luke and Mallory had already been here.
I bolted up to the front door, leaving the Jeep running, and banged on the door.
“Gabby! Open up!”
She pulled the door open a minute later, dressed in nothing but a towel. “What are you doing here?” She sounded exasperated, but looked delicious, with tiny droplets of water still clinging to her pink skin.
“Get dressed,” I said, pushing myself into the house and ignoring her indignation. “It’s Baker. He’s in trouble and we need to go. Don’t tell anyone,” I commanded.
She got the message, running down the hall and dropping her towel before she even hit the guest bedroom. I sucked in a breath at the sight of her perfect, heart-shaped ass. I took several deep breaths to calm myself and then she was back in the living room, dressed in skinny jeans and a dark gray sweater. Her hair was still wet and she managed to pull it into a sexy, messy bun.
Who am I kidding? Everything about her is sexy.
“I just have to get my boots,” she said, sitting on the bench near the door to pull on her winter boots.
I watched her, amazed by the fact that she wasn’t arguing or trying to get me to tell her exactly what happened. She was normally so stubborn, so desperate to get her way, that she wouldn’t have budged an inch without all the information she needed.
“Ready?” she asked, standing before me for a second before grabbing her thick coat and leading me out to the Jeep. I locked the house behind me and by the time I got in the driver’s seat, she was already buckled and looking at me expectantly.
I backed out of her driveway and then we were off. I kept my eyes on the road, but I wanted nothing more than to stare at her seemingly endless legs. She was so tempting, even when she wasn’t trying.
“What happened?” she whispered after I pulled onto the highway.
“I called Baker and he didn’t answer, but then he called me back on some random number. I think he’s going to try to kill himself.”
She gasped but didn’t reply. Tears formed, but she didn’t shed them. I was damn proud of her, too.
“He hung up before he told me where he is, but I called the number back and it’s an inn about two hours away, so we need to go find him.”
“Of course. Did you tell Luke and Mallory?”
“No. They would have only wanted to come with us, and Luke needs to stay in town. I checked the weather and this storm is only going to get worse through the day. It’s supposed to dump another ten inches down today, more in the mountains.”
She nodded and I wondered, belatedly, if we would be able to make it back to town today. Neither of us was well prepared for the trip ahead, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Baker, and getting to him before he did something stupid.
After ten minutes of extremely uncomfortable silence, I decided to try talking.
“I wasn’t expecting the first winter storm to come so early,” I said, proud for having kept my tone completely neutral.
She turned to me. “Do you still want to fuck me?”
I nearly swerved off the road. “What? Who asks that?”
“I do. And I want to know. Do you still want me, Wolfe?”
“I hardly think this is the time to be talking–”
“Oh, just answer the question! Why can’t you ever just give me a straight answer?” She glared at me, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked out the window.
A sigh escaped me. “Of course I want you. I never stopped. I want you more than you could possibly ever know, Gabby. But not just sexually. I mean, sure, you’ve got a hot body and you’re absolutely beautiful, but that’s not why I want you. You’re absolutely stunning on the inside. The way you would do anything for any one of your friends, the way you care about all the little things. You’re so kind and caring, putting everyone else’s happiness ahead of your own. You inspire me.”
She didn’t turn to look at me, but I knew she heard every word. Either she was stunned into silence or pissed off. I couldn’t tell from my angle so I decided to keep going.
“In the last three years, I’ve hardly seen you take a moment to really enjoy yourself. When Joe got sick, you were there for him, for Luke, and for Mallory, when she finally came back to town. You held onto Rainey’s secret for years, to protect her. And then you fully supported both of them when they decided to go for their dreams of love, even when your own love life was failing. Our separation has been hard on you, I know, but I want you to know just one thing, Gabby: There isn’t a day, an hour, a minute, or even a second that goes by where I don’t think about you and what an idiot I am for letting you go. There’s no one else for me, Gabby. So if you want to go through with this divorce, you’re damning me to a life of loneliness. Eternity without you will be hell.”
“Wolfe, please stop,” she begged. But I couldn’t.
It was like once the dam was opened, I couldn’t help myself. Words of love poured out uncontrollably.
“I won’t stop. I’ll never stop loving you, baby. You’re it for me. The one, my soul mate, whatever phrase you want to use – that’s you. I mean it when I say I’m going to be alone forever. I knew, the moment I met you, all those years ago, that I’d found the one woman I would want for the rest of my life. And yes, when those papers are signed and this divorce is final, I will let you walk away, but until then, I’m going to do anything I can to prove to you that I would walk to the ends of the earth for you.”
Tears flooded her cheeks, and I wasn’t sure if it was because she felt similarly or she hated me. I managed to keep my mouth shut, though, instead of asking her. I wanted to, but I knew she needed a minute.
When her hand latched onto mine over the center console, a glimmer of hope formed deep in my chest, a place I’d shut off from the world over a year ago when she turned my heart black. I tried to beat the hope down, to not let it get out of hand, but there were so many things I wanted to say this past year. I gripped her hand like a lifeline, the darkness melting from around my heart.
As I drove, we both sat there, unspeaking, too afraid to ruin this moment. So we rode in silence and I soaked up as much of her sweet warmth as I could. Her hand seemed so small in mine, something I’d never noticed before. She was much more fragile now than she’d been last year. I was afraid I was the cause.
When we arrived at the inn, we ignored the fiery pulse that bounced between us and focused on Baker. He needed us right now. We raced into the foyer area.
“We’re looking for Christopher Baker,” I said to the receptionist.
“And your name?” I was confused but gave it to her anyway. She smiled at me. “Of course, Mr. Landon. Here is your room key, and Mr. Baker explained to us that no expense was to be spared. You and Mrs. Landon are in room two-oh-eight.” She handed me a digital card key.
“No, you don’t understand. Baker is in trouble,” Gabby started.
“Ah, yes, he said there was some kind of misunderstanding about his whereabouts. He asked me to tell you that there is a note in your room and that he has explained everything. Enjoy your stay.” The woman dismissed us then, seeing to tasks in the back room.
I glanced at Gabby. “What the hell is this?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I think you staged this little plot to get me alone.”
I sucked in a breath. “Are you serious?”
“Of course. You’ve been trying to get me alone for weeks, anxious to get me back in bed. Don’t deny it,” she said when I opened my mouth to interrupt her.
I shook my head sadly and realized there was nothing I could say to convince her. Instead of arguing, I just turned toward the elevators, trying to figure out what Baker was up to. I pressed the
up
button and waited impatiently for the doors to open. While I waited, Gabby wandered over, her gaze still angry.
She didn’t speak and I refused to initiate conversation.
How dare she accuse me of setting her up?
I wouldn’t do something like that to her … I know she’s too controlling for that. She always liked to know exactly what was going on and hated,
hated
surprises.
The doors opened and we stepped in together, still silent. I pressed the button for the second floor and then clasped my hands together in front of me. Gabby, I noticed, was back to crossing her arms over her chest. Her chin was defiantly high, a sign of protest. I would have laughed if the whole situation wasn’t so ridiculous. When we landed on the second floor, she was out of the elevator before the doors even fully opened.
She paused for just a second to figure out where the room was and then sprinted down the hall. I chuckled, realizing just a minute before she did that I was the one with the key. By the time I got to the end of the hall, she was huffing impatiently. I held in my smile, barely, and from her glare, she knew what I was thinking.
Without stopping, I swiped the card and then the door of the room pushed open. It was more of a suite than a motel room, complete with a huge Jacuzzi in the main area. The plush fabrics of the comforter and pillows were inviting and I was suddenly aware of how intimate it was to be in this romantic room with Gabby.
“What was Baker doing here?” she asked aloud, the first words she spoke that weren’t hostile.
“I’m not sure,” I mumbled, wandering over to the dining table set for two. On it were two envelopes, one with each of our names scrawled on it. “I think this is a good place to start, though.” I picked them up and handed her the one with her name.
I went over to the window as I opened mine up. The view was spectacular. There was a small pond that had already frozen over with the cold weather they’d been getting in the mountains and several couples skated lazily across the ice, holding hands or kissing in the snow. It was a beautiful sight.
I pulled out the letter and started to read it, never imagining what it could say.
Wolfe, we’ve been friends a short time. After losing Rainey, I’ve realized how important it is to cherish what you have. And I know you’re hurting about Gabby, so I am giving you this: one night, here with her. I can’t guarantee anything, but Rainey went crazy when I brought her here back in September. It was our last trip together and I’m hoping this will be the first of many for you and Gabby.
Whatever happens, go with it. But don’t let Gabby leave. One night here will change her mind, I’m sure. Good luck.
-Baker
PS- I’m not emotionally compromised or about to kill myself. Luke, Mallory, Rainey, and I planned this all out for you. You guys deserve to be happy.
I blew out a breath, thankful that he was okay, but also kind of pissed that he was trying to manipulate us that way. I glanced over at Gabby, whose letter was far longer than mine, and watched her for a moment. She’d taken a seat on the bed. Tears welled in her eyes and then spilled onto the page as she read. She laughed softly to herself for a moment before more tears came. The way her eyes lit up and then turned so sad in just a millisecond; the play of emotion on her face was incredible to watch.
When she finished reading, she folded the letter, wiped her eyes, and then looked at me. I didn’t know what to say, so I kept quiet. She set the letter on the bedspread beside her and then stood, wiping away more tears. When she stepped toward me, my heart leapt into my throat, wondering if it could be so simple.
She wrapped her delicate hands around my neck and pulled me down for a heartbreaking kiss.